Our visit to the wilderness was just a tease. We know now that we have made the transition to our cabin in the Yamsi Valley but there is to be an ongoing transition of lifestyle and spirit.
We drove back to Bend before noon yesterday because I had a photography show scheduled for the May Art Walk at the Birkenstocks downtown. As luck would have it my good friend Loren let us stay at her home in Bend while she was out of town. Now that we have rented our Bend house, we are homeless in the city. We quickly settled in, washed away the dust and solitude of our one-night stay at the ranch, and hustled around town making last minute preparations for the show. We had to borrow some easels, go to the storage room at the Bend house to pick up displays, materials and other necessities, then a quick visit to Mom and Dad’s where we’ve got my best photos stashed in their spare closet, finally a mad rush to get set up before 5 PM and the flood of tourists and locals out for a stroll through the streets of Bend’s art/café/boutique district.
The one thing I soaked up during our flash visit to the ranch was how relative time is and that it doesn’t really do much good to rush. It certainly doesn’t help things to stress or panic about somewhat trivial things. So, we were a tad late getting everything arranged but it didn’t seem to matter to the store staff, who were wonderful, nor the few folks who were getting an early start on a spring evening with art and friends. I managed to keep taking solid, deep breaths and telling myself it would all work out just fine. I never got stressed or flustered, which is a change for me, and by the time the crowds really started to build I was happy and proud of our little display and I was into being “on”. The hermit Dawn was napping while the social Dawn was in her element. I must have talked with nearly 100 people during the four hours I was at Birkenstock. The store was constantly jammed with folks but it never got overwhelming. Bob, as usual, hung out in the background ready to run and get another photo from the car to replace one that had just sold, or figure out how to package another piece that sold in its frame and needed to make it to Southern California with its new owners without getting dinged.
Unlike the April Art Walk I didn’t sell ANY greeting cards, which was disappointing. But I did notice, once again, that since I was paid so many compliments by a wide range of people that a growing confidence with my return to photography was settling in. Oh, and did I mention I ended up selling nearly $800 worth of my large pictures!!
By the time we wrapped up for the night it was after 10 PM. I hadn’t eaten much for lunch and hadn’t had time for any dinner. Bob was in the van, I in the Honda, so we agreed to meet back up at Loren’s house after Bob loaded the last of the goods in the van. When he showed up with two salads and 3 slices of pizza from Pizza Mondo I cracked up because I’d stopped by the same place on my way home and somehow we missed each other. Combined with the one large salad and 2 slices of pizza I’d brought home we had enough to keep us fed for the next two days.
I felt completely exhausted all day today, almost hung over even, though I don’t think eating two pounds of salad near midnight will cause that feeling. After taking the dogs for a walk at the park right behind Loren’s house I settled in to get caught up with work and writing.
In the evening we went over to Curtis and Sheri’s house to welcome them home. They are remarkable travelers. They’d only been back in their house one night, after two months in India, and it already seemed like they hadn’t ever left. We walked over to Karen’s house for dinner and to hear stories of India and beyond. Between Art Walk last night and our small dinner party tonight, I think I’ve gotten my fill of socializing for a bit. Tomorrow it is back to the ranch and this time we’ll have the space to really settle in.